The Best Hotels for a Weekend Break from London – No Car Required

Looking to escape the Big Smoke for a day or two? Here we present a few of our favourite places within easy mini-break distance of London, from the Cotswolds to the coast. No car? No problem! As you’ll see, all of these places are accessible by public transport…

The Marine Hotel – Whitstable, Kent

Why we love it: While tucking into Whitstable’s famous oysters in the restaurant and watching the sun sink into the sea, you’ll probably feel a lot further away from home than you are. The Maritime Hotel overlooks Tankerton’s long shingle beach, which is lined with groynes and bordered by a rainbow of colourful wooden beach huts.

The George in Rye – Rye, East Sussex

Journey time: 1 hour and 10 minutes from St Pancras International via Ashford International to Rye, then a 5-minute walk.

Why we love it: Dating from 1575, The George is one of Rye’s oldest coaching inns. Described by The Daily Telegraph as a “local landmark”, it is on Rye’s high street, opposite the historic Thomas Peacocke grammar school building, which has been converted into a record shop.

Inside the boutique hideaway you’ll find wooden beams from an Elizabethan galley, antique clocks and welcoming hearths where you can sample a pint of local Sussex ale. The hotel is popular with A-listers too: previous guests include George Clooney, Matt Damon, Ian McKellan and Kevin Costner.

Tamburlaine – Cambridge

Journey time: 50 minutes from King’s Cross, followed by a 2-minute walk.

Why we love it: This quirky hotel opened in March, 2017, and cost no less than £50 million to bring into being. It’s got Persian-meets-old-school-Cambridge interiors, plus a handy spot near the railway station that makes it ideal for those on foot.

Malmaison Oxford

Journey time: 1 hour from Paddington to Oxford, then an 8-minute walk to the hotel.

Why we love it: “Once the city’s prison, this is definitely a hotel with a difference,” says The AA Hotel Guide 2017. Malmaison Oxford is itself steeped in history, and it’s a 10-minute stroll from the city centre. The nearby 400-year-old Bodleian Library boasts a collection of over 11 million printed works. If you’re looking for grand architecture, striped lawns and arty cafés, this is for you.

Hotel du Vin – Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire

Why we love it: Hotel du Vin is housed in a 300-year-old former brewery, a stone’s throw from Henley’s famous riverside, which is lined with popular pubs and postcard-worthy architecture. This Grade II-listed haunt has a champagne bar and a courtyard for al fresco dining, with exposed brickwork and wooden beams inside.

Head to the River & Rowing Museum to discover more about the sport that has immortalised this small community, or charter a rowing boat yourself at Hobbs of Henley, and really get into the spirit. Both places are within a 10-minute walk.

Sir Christopher Wren Hotel & Spa – Windsor, Berkshire

Why we love it: Just beyond the ramparts of Windsor Castle, this Grade II-listed property has both a high-end leisure club and a spa. The restaurant serves a Sunday lunch with a difference – the Bubbles & Jazz option comprises three courses, free-flowing prosecco and music from a local jazz trio.

Windsor Castle and High Street, where you can catch the Changing of the Guard, are both within five minutes’ walk, and Ascot Racecourse is a 15-minute taxi ride away. This is a great stay for spa-seekers and history buffs alike.

Bailbrook House Hotel – Bath, Somerset

Journey time: 1 hour and 20 minutes from Paddington to Bath Spa station, then a 15-minute ride on the number 3 or X31 bus, followed by a 5-minute walk.

Why we love it: This manor-house hotel is perched on a hilltop in 20 acres of private parkland, with Bath city centre and Bath Spa station just a 15-minute taxi ride away. You can also hop on the regular bus service into town (the bus stop is 500 metres from the hotel).

The Roman Baths, Thermae Bath Spa and the Royal Crescent have to be the highlights of this honey-hued city. Regardless, Bailbrook House Hotel does have its own 2-AA-Rosette-awarded vaulted restaurant, and far-reaching views of the city and countryside, so don’t feel guilty about spending a little time with your feet up.

There has been a market here for over 900 years, and you’ll find fresh fruit and vegetables, cheeses and sweet treats on sale every Tuesday and Friday. If you’re after local culture, head to the Lynn Museum or to True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum and learn about King’s Lynn’s thriving fishing past.

Barnett Hill Country House Hotel – Wonersh, Surrey

Journey time: 45-minute journey from London Waterloo to Guildford, then a 10-minute train journey to Chilworth and a 5-minute taxi ride.

Why we love it: If you’re looking for an easy getaway close to London, opt for an overnight stay at Barnett Hill Country House Hotel in the pretty village of Wonersh, Surrey. It’s a Queen Anne-style manor set in 26 acres of woodland with colourful mature gardens on the edge of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Guildford, with its art galleries, museums and medieval castle, is 10 minutes’ drive away and offers something to do whatever the weather.

The hotel’s fine-dining restaurant holds two AA Rosettes, and in warmer weather you can dine al fresco on the terrace.

The Bull at Burford, Cotswolds

Journey time: 1 hour and 10 minutes by train from Paddington to Hanborough, then a 50-minute bus ride to Burford on the 233 bus (or 25-minute taxi ride)

Why we love it: Burford is “a striking mix of stone cottages, fine gold-tinged Cotswold townhouses and the odd Elizabethan or Georgian treasure” (Lonely Planet), and this hotel enjoys a prime spot on the high street. You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to old country pubs, antique stores, and Cotswold deli and cheese shops serving a plethora of local delights.